A legacy in the Fireside Family: Michele Giggey’s 32-years of community-building

When the doors open each morning at Fireside Elementary, there’s a familiar face that has quietly shaped the school’s culture for more than three decades. For 32 years, office manager Michele Giggey has been far more than the person behind the front desk—serving in multiple roles in the school, she has been a touchpoint for families and staff through hard times and to many, the heart of the Fireside school community.

This year, that legacy was formally recognized when Michele received the 2026 Blake Peterson Lifetime Achievement Award this spring by our BVSD foundation, Impact on Education. 

Her journey to Fireside began organically—as a parent volunteer. Michele began volunteering at the school after moving into a home just across the street. Not long after, then-principal Craig Christopher approached her with a request: join the staff as a special education paraprofessional.

Back then, she recalls with a laugh, “you just filled out a piece of paper, and that was it.”

What started as a part-time role quickly evolved. A shift to the health room led to work in the front office, then to registrar duties, and eventually to the role she would hold for decades: office manager. It was a natural progression—one driven by her willingness to step in wherever she was needed.

A local community bond
A fourth-generation Boulder native, Michele has deep roots in the community she serves. She has watched Louisville grow from a small, close-knit suburb into a thriving town, but says all the while Fireside has kept its “family feel.” Despite changes like increased open enrollment and a growing student population, Michele says the school’s culture has remained remarkably consistent.

“People come here (staff and families), and they don’t want to leave,” she says. “That says a lot about a school.”

At the center of that culture is Michele’s philosophy: lead with kindness. Whether she’s greeting a student, helping a parent through a difficult moment, or supporting a staff member behind the scenes, her approach is grounded in empathy.

“You never know what someone is dealing with,” she says. “So you treat everyone with kindness and grace, and you give them the benefit of the doubt.”

That mindset was shaped not only by years of experience, but also by personal hardship. After the loss of her husband eight years ago, Michele found strength in returning to the Fireside community—a place where she felt supported, understood, and at home. That experience deepened her commitment to ensuring others feel the same sense of care.

“I probably would have retired sooner if I hadn’t lost my husband, as that wasn’t my plan,” shared Giggey. “But this place is my home and these people and students gave me purpose every day.”

She says the way she approaches her school community is through the small, unseen moments: checking in on a struggling student, preparing a teacher’s classroom after a family loss, or simply offering a hug in the hallway. 

Her commitment to inclusivity and kindness also shows in the way she leads her office team, setting clear expectations that every person who walks through the door—students, families, delivery drivers, or staff—should feel welcomed and valued.

Seeing the school through unprecedented times
Giggey has helped guide the school through some of its most challenging moments, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Marshall Fire, which impacted many Fireside Elementary families.

During COVID, she, like many other school staff, coordinated large-scale Chromebook distributions, organized logistics for families, and helped maintain a sense of connection during an isolating time. “We just figured it out to keep our students learning,” she says. “That’s what you do.”

The Marshall Fire also tested the Fireside and surrounding community in unprecedented ways. She recalls being in the Superior Costco that would later sustain damage from the fire, when she received a call from her family urging her to evacuate. Even as she navigated her own uncertainty, her focus quickly turned to Fireside—noitfying the then principal and tracking which families were affected, organizing resources, and working long days to support those in need.

In the weeks that followed, she helped coordinate donations, including a semi-truck filled with new clothing for families who had lost everything. It was overwhelming work, but also a powerful reminder of the community’s resilience.

“You put aside what you’re going through to help those in need,” she says. “I find it helps with your own hardship, to be a helper in hard times.”

Through all of the challenges of the school, she has remained a constant for the students, staff and families—someone who can manage the unexpected with calm, experience, and an unwavering sense of purpose. Whether responding to emergencies, juggling countless responsibilities, or simply ensuring the school runs smoothly, she approaches every challenge with the same mindset: we’ll make it work.

It always comes back to supporting the students
She shared that the most rewarding part of the job has always come back to the students. Watching a child overcome a challenge—especially those who may struggle academically or emotionally brings the most joy.

“Seeing their faces when they succeed in something they didn’t think they could do—that’s everything,” she says. “Especially getting to experience the relief and pride in the parents.”

Fireside principal Kristen Smetzer says Giggey is really the heart of the school.

“She really holds the school together,” Smetzer shared. “She knows how to intentionally build relationships and brings them together to create a supportive and caring community. We will miss her greatly.”

As she begins making plans for retirement (this upcoming school year will be her last at Fireside), Michele admits it won’t be easy to step away from a place that has meant so much to her for so long. But she’s also ready for what comes next—more time with her children and grandchildren, opportunities to travel, and perhaps even returning to Fireside as a volunteer.

“I always tell my kids, change won’t happen until you make a change,” she says. “There’s a little fear at first, but I’ll be ready.”

Her legacy isn’t just in the systems she built or the challenges she helped navigate, but in the relationships she nurtured and the culture of kindness she leaves behind.

“That first day of school I’m not there will feel so strange not being there,” she shared. “But one thing I know for sure is that the Fireside family will continue to grow and thrive for many years to come.”